The First King Chapter 4

    Before we go any further, let me introduce myself. My name is Ahitub. I am Eli's grandson. My father was Phinehas. You may wonder then why I portray my family in this manner, but I must tell the truth. It is only right.

    I am now High Priest of Israel under the reign of King Saul. My son Ahimelech is training to take over in my stead. We are trying to erase the shame of our family's past, but the curse of YHWH still hangs over us. No matter, what is the will of YHWH is His will, and I refuse to question it. My family did evil and now we must atone, though maybe YHWH will have mercy on us for our faithfulness to Him.

    So this is how I know this history, what was hidden from so many eyes. I was not much younger than Samuel when the upcoming events took place. He then trained me and, well, this too will be shown in time.

    Now, let us return to the narrative.





    The day following the Sacrifice of Atonement dawned bright. The sun chased away any lingering mists, and the people began to stir. Fires sprang up among the tents and children could be heard laughing as the new day of play opened before them. Families gathered and ate, their prayers and singing filling the air.

      When the meals were finished, the people spread out amongst the city. It was wondrous the way the people's hearts seemed to be lightened. But, if you think about it, small wonder. Their guilt and shame had been rolled away for one more year. They were free of the punishment once again, and freedom is incomparable.

      As the day progressed and the sun climbed in the sky, the revelry only increased. Impromptu concerts began, the singers more often than not unable to finish due to fits of uncontrollable laughing.

      The midday meal had just begun when a runner was spotted on the horizon. Several men walked to the edge of the camp and met him as he came in, one of them handing him a skin full of wine cut with water. The runner took a long pull from the skin then looked at the men. They were looking at him with puzzled eyes.

      "What is the hurry, brother? Afraid you will miss the noon feast?"

      At this the other men laughed, but the sweating man did not laugh. Instead he took another long drink and then gasped out, "The Philistines are in our lands!"

      "What?" One of the men grabbed his arm. "The Philistines have attacked? When?"

      "Several days ago. They have razed several villages and are heading in this direction. I was sent to call the army to drive them back into their lands."

      "It seems they want to catch us while we're all together." One of the men spoke. "It's time we drove them back, all the way to the sea." His fellows all lifted up their voices in agreement.

      The call went out and the men of Israel gathered outside of the city. Word had continued to filter in throughout the day, brought in by several more messengers. The Philistines were only about two days away, it seemed.

      The Israeli Captain, Ahazi, gathered his lieutenants in his tent. In the dirt at his feet he had drawn a rough map of the land west of their position. He scraped out a section, "The Philistines," then drew a square, "Us."

      He stood up then, looking each of his men in the eye. "We've got to catch them before they get in the flatlands, where they can use their chariots. So, we need to force march and catch them in the hills, preferrably in a pass."

      He looked to Shan, a grizzled man with wide streaks of gray in his hair and unkempt beard. "You and your scouts need to range widely ahead of us, so we find these dogs first. I don't want any surprises."

        Then he spoke to Nad, his lieutenant of slingers. "Make sure we have plenty of ammunition. Melt down any unessential metal we have in this camp." Nad nodded and strode from the tent, his men following.

        Lastly, he turned to Joshua. "The footmen must remember to stay to higher ground. Under no circumstances must we find ourselves on level footing with the chariots. We do not have a prayer on level ground. Understand?" Joshua nodded his agreement.

        "Alright, men. We will move out as soon as we've eaten. Dismissed."

        As the other men were moving out, Shan moved over to stand close to Ahazi. Speaking low, he said, "Are you sure we need to move with such speed? We could simply spread out in the hills just west of us and catch them in a trap. No need to move so far away, keep an eye on our families."

      Ahazi shook his head forcibly. "No. What if they don't come this far? Is our convenience and comfort more valuable than the lives that would be lost? No. We move out after we eat." Nad turned to go. Ahazi spoke again, "And do not make this meal last longer than it should." Nad met his eyes, nodded, and walked from the tent. 

      The meal was eaten hurriedly, men gulping down their food and drink. Those few that had metal weapons were sharpening them. Most of the foot soldiers had long wooden shafts pointed at one end, some had shafts with no pointed ends. The men with spears were poking their points into the fir to harden them. The slingers were hard at work forming the fire softened metal into balls. There were even some men with spears with metal heads.

        All told there was about twenty-five thousand men. Four thousand scouts, twenty-five hundred slingers, one thousand archers, seven thousand swordsmen, and the remaining ten thousand, five hundred carried spears of some sort.

        The scouts rode donkeys, which they would dismount if they had to fight. They were from the tribe of Gad, mainly. The archers hailed from Benjamin mostly, and could use either hand to shoot a bow or sling. Judah and Naphtali supplied the spearmen, men from Zebuline could fight with any sort of weapon, but they mainly used the sword. the other tribes, Levi excluded, provided a variety of men, but the tribes mentioned were the most proficient at warfare.

        Finally, the meal was done and the men made ready to set out. Ahazi stood on a stack of blankets at the edge of the camp and spoke through a horn, which helped to make his voice heard.

        "Men of Israel. Followers of the One True God, YHWH. We must now set out to bring vengeance upon these uncircumcised Philistine who would dare to once again invade our land. May YHWH strike them down through us!" At these words the army roared and Ahazi had to wait for them to quiet before he could speak again.

        "And now men, a special treat. Hophni and Phinehas have told me they are coming with us, and they are bringing the Ark with them." A moment of breathless silence as this news sank in. The Ark of the Covenant? Going to battle? Then the import of this news sank in and the men roared so loud the ground shook.



                                  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



          "What is the meaning of this?" Eli cried out as he watched the men carry the Ark from the Holiest of Holies. Through his age-dimmed eyes he could just make out the poles resting on their shoulders as they carried it out.

          "Father, you need to calm down." Phinehas said. "Bringing the Ark will guarantee our victory over the Philistines. The Ark has never seen a lost battle."

          Eli almost collapsed, but his son caught him and helped him to sit. "My son, YHWH is not a puppet for us to command. His ways are far above ours. We attempt to control Him at our peril. Please do not do this." He burst into tears, sobbing.

          Phinehas attempted to make his father see his point of view, but without success. He kissed his father's head, stood up, and walked from the room. Eli didn't even notice that he left.

          Samuel was watching the army prepare to leave when he saw it. The Ark. It was being carried by four men supporting staffs on their shoulders. The staffs were placed under loops built into the side of the Ark for just this purpose, but it had not been moved for generations. Did Eli approve this? Samuel raced into the Temple and found Eli sitting in the outer court, weeping. He stood for a moment, indecisive, then he moved and sat by Eli. The old man grabbed his hand and clutched it tightly.

          They sat there for a while, then they heard the army roar with such force it shook the ground. Eli cried out and nearly fell, but he clutched Samuel's arm to keep himself upright. "They are cheering for the Ark," Eli croaked. "Perhaps YHWH will have mercy on us in our folly."

          Samuel turned to look at the old priest. "Did you give them permission to take the Ark?"

          Eli shook his head. "No, I did not. My sons think they can command YHWH to do their bidding, and I warned them, but they did what they thought was best. I must tell their families that they have went with the army. Help me up, my son."

        Samuel helped him stand and went with the High Priest as they went to visit his sons' families. As they walked, they heard the sounds of the army leaving.



        When they told Phinehas' wife, Naomi, she wept. "Our baby is due any day, and he goes off playing soldier? With the Ark? Father, why have you allowed this foolishness in my husband? Is there no way you could have stopped him?"

        Eli put his hands on her shoulders and smiled sadly, "Your husband is beyond my reproach now. We must trust in YHWH and His will, my daughter. Everything else is out of our control."